The Odisha High Court ordered the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) to compensate an Odisha Judicial Service (OJS) aspirant with Rs. 1 lakh due to errors in the exam paper evaluation. The court emphasized that competitive exams play a crucial role in shaping careers, representing years of dedication, disciplined preparation, and significant financial and personal sacrifices by candidates. Recognizing the impact of such lapses, the bench stressed the need for fairness and accuracy in evaluations.
Cuttack: The Orissa High Court awarded Rs.1 lakh in compensation to petitioner Jyotirmayee Dutta, who sought judicial intervention over the non-evaluation of an answer in the Odisha Judicial Service (Main) Examination.
Dutta appeared for the OJS Main Exam 2022 in September 2023, with results announced on December 4, 2023. She narrowly missed qualifying for the next stage of document verification and interview by just five marks.
In her petition, she claimed that one question in the Law of Property paper had not been evaluated, which affected her total score. Had her answers been properly assessed, she believed she would have qualified.
The court intervened, and her answer script was re-evaluated by experts from three respected universities, confirming the non-evaluation of the question. However, even after awarding marks for the omitted question, Dutta did not achieve the required score to pass.
The two-judge bench, comprising Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo and Justice Chittaranjan Dash, dismissed her petition but noted,
“Considering the mental trauma and financial burden the petitioner endured in pursuing this case to highlight the said lapse, this court deems it appropriate to award compensation of Rs.1 lakh to the petitioner, which shall be paid by the OPSC within a period of 60 days from the date of this judgment.”
The bench emphasized that the compensation serves to acknowledge the procedural flaw and reminds the OPSC to enhance its scrutiny in evaluation processes.
They stated,
“Competitive examinations are the cornerstone of countless aspirations… These exams represent years of relentless preparation… The stakes for these aspirants are extraordinarily high.”
Therefore, they urged OPSC to adopt rigorous quality control measures.
The Odisha Judicial Service (OJS) Examination is a competitive exam conducted by the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) to recruit candidates for the position of Civil Judge in the state judiciary. The examination process comprises three stages:
- Preliminary Examination: This is an objective-type screening test designed to shortlist candidates for the Main Examination.
- Main Examination: A descriptive written test assessing candidates’ in-depth knowledge of law.
- Viva-Voce (Interview): The final stage evaluates candidates’ personality, legal acumen, and suitability for a judicial role.
The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) is the state agency responsible for conducting civil service examinations and recruitment for various government posts in Odisha, India. It operates under the provisions of the Constitution of India and plays a crucial role in selecting candidates for administrative, judicial, and other important services in the state.